How can your organization provide support and resources to a vast community of members in many different situations? How do you build connections between members of different ages, genders, ethnicities, experiences, and backgrounds?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Laurie Kulikosky, CEO of Children and Adults with ADHD (CHADD). Laurie discusses:

• How CHADD is the largest U.S. organization for ADHD support, with a mission to empower individuals with ADHD by providing evidence-based resources and advocating for inclusivity and rights.
• How CHADD's resources support millions of Americans with ADHD, including individuals, families, healthcare professionals, and educators.
• How CHADD stands out by focusing on scientifically validated ADHD information. Unlike many online resources, CHADD provides credible, medically reviewed resources, partly funded by a CDC grant.
• How she went from working with an SAT tutoring company to taking roles at the Consumer Technology Association and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons before becoming CHADD’s CEO.
• How her executive coaching helped clarify her career path to CEO and how not everyone needs to aspire to be a CEO, and the importance of other roles in associations.
• How CHADD’s membership spans both the general public and professionals. It functions partly as a nonprofit providing resources on ADHD to people who may not be formal members.
• The impact of her predecessor, a professional interim CEO, who helped stabilize CHADD and set up a foundational roadmap for her role.
• How the current leadership at CHADD has focused on identifying and implementing strategies for growth, especially following the rapid changes brought by the pandemic.
• CHADD’s new program that offers training and resources for companies interested in supporting neurodivergent employees.
• The International Conference on ADHD that CHADD is co-hosting, which brings together professionals, healthcare providers, individuals with ADHD, and their supporters.
• How during ADHD Awareness Month, Chad collaborates with other organizations to amplify ADHD awareness and provide up-to-date resources.
• How CHADD is working with a coalition to create the first adult ADHD diagnosis and treatment guidelines in the U.S.
• How CHADD is preparing for another significant year of growth, aiming to expand support to more adults and offer continuous resources and advocacy.

References:

• ADHD Awareness Month, October 2024
• International Conference on ADHD, In-person November 14-16, 2024 in Anaheim, CA, Virtual March 7-8, 2025
• Free Resources and Support through CHADD’s National Resource Center on ADHD 
• Become a member of CHADD
• Donate to support CHADD’s work